Jurgen Klopp responds to Jordan Henderson - Tottenham Hotspur rumours

Speaking to the club's official website, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he would have to consider selling midfielder Jordan Henderson if he wanted to leave, amid speculation linking him with Tottenham Hotspur.

In March, The Sun reported that Spurs were plotting a £25million summer move for the Reds captain, with Tottenham reportedly hoping that Champions League football could lure him to North London during the off season.

The 25-year-old is expected to face his reported suitors when the Premier League title-chasing Lilywhites visit Merseyside this afternoon - a potential audition for a role in Mauricio Pochettino's set-up next term.

However, Klopp is adamant that the former Sunderland man remains a vital part of his plans, but hinted that he would consider selling if Henderson requested a desire to leave.

“Someone told me that there was a rumour about Jordan Henderson with Tottenham and I said, not about Jordan Henderson, that if a player comes to me and says ‘I will leave’ then we have to think about it,” he told the club's official website.

“But it’s in general like this and nothing has changed. We cannot hold the rumour alive only by asking the same things and giving the same answer. Nothing had happened until then, no-one had spoken to me. Jordan Henderson is a very important player for us but if he, or somebody else, (says he wants to leave) then we have to start thinking about it. That’s completely normal.

“We cannot say ‘stop, you stay here’. We could say it but it makes no sense for both sides. This is the same for all players. If there’s interest from the player, from a club then we will always think about it and talk about it but only then and not before.”

Joining Spurs would surely tempt Henderson, if they are indeed interested, but there is also an exciting project being built on Merseyside by the German - and the England midfielder should twice before leaving it.

Shane Callaghan

Shane is a Dublin-based sports writer who swapped the football pitch for the press box upon learning that he was better with a pen than with a round bit of leather. Prior to joining HITC, Shane enjoyed spells with Sports Mole and Goal.com among others, while he was also club reporter for Irish football club Drogheda United.